Özgür Özel

Chairperson of the Republican People’s Party (CHP)

Özgür Özel was born in Manisa in 1974. He completed his secondary and high school education at the German Department of İzmir Bornova Anatolian High School, then later at Manisa High School. He received his Bachelors from the Ege University Faculty of Pharmacy.

In 1999, Özel started to work as a self-employed pharmacist and served as the Secretary General of the Manisa Chamber of Pharmacists for one term and as the President of the Chamber for two terms between 2001 and 2007. In the same years, he served as Spokesperson and President of the Manisa Academic Chambers Union.

In the March 29, 2009 local elections, Özgür Özel was the mayoral candidate of the Republican People's Party (CHP) for the city of Manisa and served as the Republican People's Party's Manisa Province Delegate in the 33rd Ordinary Congress and the 15th Extraordinary Congress.

In 2007 and December 2009, he was elected to the Central Board of the Turkish Pharmacists' Association. He served as Treasurer for one term and Secretary General for two terms in the Union of Turkish Pharmacists. At the General Elections on June 12, 2011, he was elected to the Turkish Parliament from Manisa Constituency.

He was re-elected as Member of Parliament from Manisa, at the 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th legislative terms. In these terms, he took part in the Health, Family, Labour and Social Affairs Commissions, SOMA Mine Accident Investigation Commission, CHP Prisons Monitoring and Investigation Commission and CHP Commission to Investigate the Problems of Universities and Students.

At the 18th CHP Extraordinary Congress, he was elected as a member of the party assembly. He continued in this position until he assumed the position of Deputy Parliamentary Group Chairperson.

In the 25th, 26th and 27th legislative terms, he served as CHP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chairperson and in the 28th term as the Group Chairperson.

On 4 November 2023, at the 38th Ordinary Congress of CHP, he was elected as the Chairperson of the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

On 25 February 2024 at the Socialist International Council Meeting held in Madrid, Özgür Özel was elected as Vice President of the Socialist International.

Özgür Özel is married and has a daughter.